Author offers words to lure by

Adults aren't the only ones hoping to reel in whoppers during The Saginaw News Shiver on the River Walleye Contest. Children are looking to hook some finned trophies of their own, and Traverse City author Sonja L. Richards is in Saginaw to lend the contest an extra boost.

"I wrote it to encourage young people to start fishing," Richards, 32, said of her first book, "The Comet Kid," during a book signing Friday at Gander Mountain, 2270 Tittabawassee in Kochville Township.

Published in May by Traverse City's Olde Towne Publishing -- also started by Richards -- the 32-page book tells the fictionalized story of her 8-year-old son, Cody A. Richards, catching a 15-pound pike. The "Comet Kid" of the title refers to Cody and his favorite fishing lure, a silver No. 3 Mepps Comet Mino given to him by his grandfather.

David A. Sommers | The Saginaw NewsTraverse City author Sonja Richards, 32, autographs her book "The Comet Kid" for 52-year-old twin sisters Maureen Rehman, center, of Thomas Township and Marie Rehman of Bridgeport Township at Gander Mountain in Kochville Township.

"It's been very popular," Richards said, "with a wider appeal than I thought it would. I've had grown men come up to me who have read it saying it brought them to tears from all the memories it brings back." The book, which Saginaw native Pauline Viall illustrated, was nominated for the 2007 Michigan Notable Book Award.

A wife and mother of two, Richards has a master's degree in education and a bachelor's degree in language arts. She taught fourth-grade math and science at Eastern Elementary School in Traverse City for eight years before deciding to become an author.

"I always wanted to write," she said.

A second signing is to take place from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. today at Waldenbooks in Fashion Square Mall, 4748 Fashion Square in Saginaw Township.

Richards said her cousin, Christine Sayad of Saginaw, had the idea for her signings to coincide with the walleye contest, which runs from 6 a.m. today until 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 16.

Richards plans to release her second book, an account of her children attending their first University of Michigan football game, in May. Viall will illustrate that one, too.

"The Comet Kid" sells for $8.95 at Waldenbooks and Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 3311 Tittabawassee in Saginaw Township, and online at strolltraversecity.com.